KOLKATA: The telecoms
department is likely to unveil a higher compensation package by June 30 to help
state-owned BSNL and MTNL coax their senior managements, involving some
1000 senior ITS officers to stay back.
Last month, BSNL and
MTNL had sought a review of an April 17 Delhi High Court order that required
them to release these ITS officers by May 14 as they had all opted to return to
government service where pension is higher. Both telcos had claimed such a move
would derail them and had sought two years from the high court to defer the ITS
repatriation exercise. But the court has given them till September 30.
Since there are no
vacancies in the telecom department either to absorb so many
executives, the government is working closely with BSNL, MTNL and the Indian Telecom Service
Association (ITSA), the body
representing ITS officers, to work out a compromise formula that encourages
about 900 ITS officers to stay back in BSNL and another 100-odd in MTNL in the
long term interest of both telcos. So much so, an internal telecom department
panel chaired by joint secretary (telecom) Malay Srivastava is trying to
finalise a new compensation package by the month end.
"Efforts are on
to encourage these ITS officers to remain in BSNL and MTNL by ensuring they do
not lose out on central pension dues," a senior official in the telecom
department with direct knowledge told ET.
At present, the high
court has fixed August 12, 2005, as the absorption date for ITS officers opting
to stay back in either BSNL or MTNL. But in that case, 90 per cent of this ITS
bloc which is in BSNL will lose 7 years of central government pension.
Since these central
government officers were deputed to BSNL 12 years ago when the telco was spun
off into a separate company from DoT, they have
already accumulated 12 years of pension dues. But if they opt to retire from
government service and seek re-employment in BSNL from August 12, 2005, they
will retain barely 5 years of central government pension. Pension earned beyond
August 12, 2005, will be as per state PSU scales which is lower than central
levels.
"This is the main
bone of contention and government is trying to address this urgently. One
option is to allow ITS officers seeking absorption in BSNL and MTNL to retire
from government service on current date. That way, they get to keep their
central pension for the full deputation period, and thereafter earn additional
sums as per PSU scale. But there is no decision yet," said a committee
member.
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